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The Paul George Leg Injury; Preventing ACL Injuries

Dr. Walter Virkus discusses the open tibia and fibula fracture suffered by the Indiana Pacer’s Paul George at the recent televised USA Basketball exhibition; nature of the injury, treatment, rehab and outlook for return to play. Walter Virkus, M.D. is director of orthopedic trauma services at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital. Dr. Virkus leads a team of orthopedic trauma specialists in caring for patients with serious injuries at the Level I Trauma Center. Dr. Virkus earned his medical degree from the New Jersey Medical School at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He completed his residency at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and fellowships at the Shock Trauma Center, Hospital for Special Surgery, and the University of Florida. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery.

According to some research, approximately 400,000 ACL injuries occur in the U.S. every year, making ACL tears among the most common injuries in young athletes today. In just five years, the number of ACL patients seen by MOR physicians has more than doubled, and taking into account the growth of sports medicine specialists at MOR, there has been a seven-fold increase in the reported number of ACL patients over a 10-year period. But what’s more concerning, is the rapid rise of ACL injuries in athletes under 25 years of age. MOR reported the number of ACL patients in that age group has tripled over the past five years.

The IATA, an advocate for safety in sports, and MOR sports medicine physicians, who treat competitive athletes and are team doctors for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox, are launching “Knees for Life,”a public awareness campaign designed to educate athletic trainers, coaches and parents about steps they can take to help prevent ACL tears in athletes and hopefully keep their knees injury free for life.